Punch



Feb. ll, 1947. s. sEGAI. 2,415,538

' PUNCH Filed Nov. l, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 1i, 1947. s. SEGAL 2,415,538

PUNCH Filed Nov. 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patentecl Feb. 1l, 1947 PUNCH Samuel Segal, New York, N. Y., assignor t l Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 1, 1944, Serial No. 561,348

This invention relates to a punch of the type adapted to perforate sheets of paper or similar material.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for mounting a single punch on a base member in such a manner that the punch may be quickly and easily moved laterally of the base so that a sheet may be provided with a plurality of perforations spaced at predetermined intervals. It is a further object of this invention to provide a punch with an inexpensive back gauge that may be operated with a maximum of ease and efficiency. It is a further object of this invention to provide an ecient, inexpensive, durable, single punch that may be operated without a base member. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top elevation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the back gauge in a different position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the punch shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the back gauge.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indi- Catesy a base member having down-turned edges 3. The base member is provided with a longitudinal slot 4 which extends the full length of the base member. The edge of the base member 2 which constitutes the forward edge of the slot 4 is bent upwardly slightly, as indicated at 5. A strip 6, extending longitudinally the full length of the base member 2, is Welded to the under surface of the base member between the turned up edge 5 and the front of the base member. The strip 5 is oiset, as indicated at 1, to provide a flange 8 which projects beyond the edge 5. The ange 8 is provided with a plurality of apertures 9 spaced at predetermined intervals.

A pair of ears I0 is provided adjacent the rear corners of the base member by cutting out portions of the base member and bending them upwardly. The ears I0 are apertured to receive the reduced ends II of a. rod I2. In assembling the 7 Claims. (Cl. 164-96) punch on the base member a single punch is mounted on the rod I2 and then the rod is secured to the ears so as to form a permanent structure. One of the ears I0 is bent outwardly at an angle greater than ninety degrees to permit insertion of the ends of the rod into the apertures and is then bent to the degree angle so as to secure the rod to the base member.

The punch head I3 includes a housing I4, which is preferably formed from a single strip of sheet metal. vOne end of the strip is curled to form a sleeve I5 through which the rod I2 passes. The housing I4 is provided with a rear wall I6 extending upwardly from the sleeve I5, a top wall Il, a front wall I8 parallel to the rear wall I6, and a bottom wall I9 parallel to the top wall I'l. The bottom wall I9 acts as a stripper plate for the punch head. The bottom wall I9 is extended downwardly, as indicated at 29, and then forwardly to form a base plate 2l. The space 20 between the bottom wall I9 and the base plate 2| constitutes the throat of the punch into which the sheets to be perforated are inserted. The base plate 2 I is bent downwardly as indicated at 22, and then forwardly to provide a front edge 23 adapted to rest on the flange 8. The front edge is provided with a downwardly extending projection 24 adapted to enter the apertures 9 to retain the punch head in any of the predetermined positions. The projection 24 may be integral with the front edge 23, or may be a separate pin permanently secured to the edge 23.

The walls Il and I9 and the base plate 2| are provided with registering apertures 25, 26 and 21 to receive a Apunch pin 2K8. The head 29 of the punch pin is of slightly larger diameter than the shank to provide a shoulder 30. A coiled spring 3l embraces the shank portion of the punch pin 28 and is held at its top by means of a washer 32 which fits around the shank of the punch pin adjacent the shoulder 3|). The bottom end of the spring 3l rests on a pressure plate 33 which is provided with an aperture 34, registering with the apertures 25, 26 and 21.

A back gauge 35 is mounted in the housing between the pressure plate 33 and the bottom wall I9. The back gauge is provided with a pair of depending ears 36 which straddle the bottom wall I9 and engage the outer edges of the base plate 2I.. The forward edges of the back gauge are provided with a pair of upstanding finger pieces 31. A downwardly yextending projection 38 is provided at the rear edge of the back gauge. This projection 38 may be integral with the back gauge or may be in the form of a pin permanently secured thereto. The bottom wall I9 of the punch housing is provided with an aperture 3Q in which the projection 38 is adapted to extend when the back gauge is in its foremost position. The forward edge of the back gauge 35 is notched, as indicated at 4D, so that the back gauge may be moved forwardly or rearwardly relative to the punch pin 28.

The top wall Il of the punch housing is provided with a pair of notches 4l to provide means for securing a handle which will not project beyond the lateral edges of the housing. A resilient wire 42 has its central portion bent into loop formation, as indicated at 43, and has its ends 44 bent outwardly, downwardly, and then inwardly te embrace the top wall l1. In order to secure the handle 42 to the punch .head I3 it is necessary only tc spread the ends apart and spring them over the lateral edges of the notches 4| in the top wall I'l of the housing. In this position the handle 42 overlies the head 2S of the punch pin and is operable to depress the punch pin against the action of the spring 3l. As soon as the pressure on the handle 42 is released, the spring 3i forces the punch pin upwardly to clear the throat of the punch.

VWhen sheets are inserted under the punch pin they are guided into the throat 2U' by the upturned edge 5 and the distance they can move into the throat is limited by the forward edges of the ears 36. When it is desired to move the back gauge 35V from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 5 the finger pieces 31 of the back gauge are grasped between the users thumb and foreiinger and the back gauge is lifted against the action of the spring 3l and then pushed backwardly. In order to move the back gauge to its forward position, the gauge Ais merely pulled forwardly by the finger pieces 31 until the projection 38 engages the aperture 39. The spring 3| is strong enough to hold the back gauge in any position between the two extremes shown in Figures 2 and 5, but generally one of these extreme positions will correspond with the back spacing desired.

When it is desired to punch sheets with a plurality of perforations spaced at predetermined intervals it is necessary only to insert the sheets in proper position in the throat and to slide the punch head I3 from one desired lateral position to another after each perforation is made. The weight of the punch head I3 is suicient to cause the projection 24 to engage each aperture 9 as the-punch head is slid laterally of the ba-se member. The vertical distance between the ange 8 and the under-surface of the base member is sufficient to permit lifting of the forward edge 23 to disengage the projection 24 from the apertures 9. It will be understood that the apertures 9 preferably correspond in spacing with the spacings normally found in commercially punched sheets. The raised edge 5 of the base member may be provided with a scale, indicated at 45 in Figure 1, in order to facilitate lateral positioning of the punch head.

The punch illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, which is adapted for hand use without reference to a base member, is substantially similar to that hereinabove described. The back wall I6 terminates ush with the base plate 2| and the sleeve l5 is eliminated. The forward edge 46 of the base plate 2| is extended beyond the front wall i8 of the punch housing to provide leverage.

Although I have described two embodiment-s of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details of the construction may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a punch, a base member provided with a longitudinal slot, a longitudinally extending ange secured to the under-surface of said base member, said ange being provided with a plurality of apertures, and a punch head slidably mounted on said base member, said punch head having a forward edge positioned between said nange and the under-surface of said base member, said forward edge being provided with a depending projection of slightly less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said apertures whereby the weight of said punch head will cause said depending projection to successively engage each aperture as the punch head is slid laterally of said base member, the vertical distance between said iiange and the under-surface of said base member being sufficient to permit lifting of said forward edge of the punch head to permit disengagement of the depending projection and said apertures.

2. In a punch, a housing having an aperture, and a back gauge slidably mounted in said housing, said back gauge having a projection engaging said aperture.

3. In a punch, a punch housing having an aperture in one wall thereof, a back gauge mounted in said housing, spring means urging said back gauge against said apertured wall, and a projection extending from said back gauge engageable with said aperture.

e. In a punch, a punch housing having an apertured unitary top wall, a punch pin mounted in said housing with its top portion projecting through said apertured wall, and a handle mounted on said unitary top wall, said handle being operable to depress said punch pin.

5. In a punch, a punch housing having a top wall, and a resilient operating handle having its ends sprung over the edges of said top wall,

6. In a punch, a'base member, a rod mounted above one edge of said base member, and a punch housing mounted on said rod, said housing comprising a single strip of metal bent to form a sleeve adapted to nt over said rod, four walls, and a base plate spaced below the bottom wall.

7. In a punch, a punch housing having an apertured top wall, a punch pin mounted in said housing with its top portion projecting through said apertured wall, said wall having a neck portion of reduced width, and a handle having its ends embracing opposite lateral edges of said neck portion, said handle being operable to depress said punch pin.

SAMUEL SEGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNrrED STATES PATENTS 

